Growing up, I was lucky to spend tons of time with my grandparents. We were the only Muncie-based grandkids, so we got Friday night dinners with Gerty and Boppa and sleepovers and support for all of our school activities and games. Gramma Jean was just in Lafayette which wasn't very far either, and I have wonderful memories of playing double solitaire and laughing until we cried about silly things. Like the idea that her imaginary boyfriend was Orville Redenbacher. I don't know--I was a weird kid. And she was a weird grandma. And I loved it.
Because of my fond times with my grandparents, I want Cameron to have time with hers. In her first year of life, she has been able to spend time with all of her grandparents and also 4 great grandparents which to me is quite remarkable.
On Monday, Cameron's great grandpa John passed away following a heart attack. He would have been 93 this August. John was an inspiration. He walked EVERY day. And I don't just mean that he walked around their apartment. He went outside on walks, long walks, every single day. This is an even more impressive tidbit when you learn that his eyesight was practically gone. He had macular degeneration in one eye and the other one was not good either in recent years. He could see better peripherally than anything else really. One day when we stopped by for a visit, he told us a story. He had gone on his walk and happened upon another gentleman out doing the same thing, so they walked together for awhile, finally realizing they lived in the same building. John's pace was quick, and the man noticed this as he struggled to keep up. He said to John, "I'm 81! And I still go walking! How old are you?" As he told us this story he had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He said he didn't want to make the man feel bad but just said "Well, add about a decade to that and you've got how old I am!" He let out a huge chuckle as he repeated this line to us. The man was shocked by the pronouncement and understandably humbled.
John had lots of stories. He talked about growing up on the farm in South Dakota, his father who worked hard in spite of having lost an arm, time out pioneering, meeting his wife of nearly 67 years, life with his siblings, and his kids and grandkids. He loved his family, always wanting to treat everyone to dinner when people were in town, usually at Olive Garden once he discovered he enjoyed the chicken fettuccini alfredo. This was quite a step up from usual McDonald's favorites. One of my very first memories with him was in August of 2010, (my first time in Bend) and it involved hearing him commentate the old slides and photos that had been transferred to a dvd. The black and whites held so much history, and so did he in that noggin of his.
This past year, he became a great grandfather twice over which was very special. I am glad that Cameron was able to spend time with him. He was so incredibly spry that he would get down on the ground with her and do "this little piggie" on her toes and then hop back up to the couch. I used to joke that he could jump up off the couch quicker than I could. The man loved dessert more than anything. Many a meal would start with him talking about something sweet coming later…he couldn't wait for that and would eat quicker just to get to it sooner!
Though Cameron and I can't be there for his memorial tomorrow, we are thinking of him and the family and in the days following as things quiet back down and return to normal but without this special guy around. He will be greatly missed by his congregation, community, Grandma Mimi and the rest of the family. We love you, Grandpa!
Because of my fond times with my grandparents, I want Cameron to have time with hers. In her first year of life, she has been able to spend time with all of her grandparents and also 4 great grandparents which to me is quite remarkable.
On Monday, Cameron's great grandpa John passed away following a heart attack. He would have been 93 this August. John was an inspiration. He walked EVERY day. And I don't just mean that he walked around their apartment. He went outside on walks, long walks, every single day. This is an even more impressive tidbit when you learn that his eyesight was practically gone. He had macular degeneration in one eye and the other one was not good either in recent years. He could see better peripherally than anything else really. One day when we stopped by for a visit, he told us a story. He had gone on his walk and happened upon another gentleman out doing the same thing, so they walked together for awhile, finally realizing they lived in the same building. John's pace was quick, and the man noticed this as he struggled to keep up. He said to John, "I'm 81! And I still go walking! How old are you?" As he told us this story he had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He said he didn't want to make the man feel bad but just said "Well, add about a decade to that and you've got how old I am!" He let out a huge chuckle as he repeated this line to us. The man was shocked by the pronouncement and understandably humbled.
John had lots of stories. He talked about growing up on the farm in South Dakota, his father who worked hard in spite of having lost an arm, time out pioneering, meeting his wife of nearly 67 years, life with his siblings, and his kids and grandkids. He loved his family, always wanting to treat everyone to dinner when people were in town, usually at Olive Garden once he discovered he enjoyed the chicken fettuccini alfredo. This was quite a step up from usual McDonald's favorites. One of my very first memories with him was in August of 2010, (my first time in Bend) and it involved hearing him commentate the old slides and photos that had been transferred to a dvd. The black and whites held so much history, and so did he in that noggin of his.
This past year, he became a great grandfather twice over which was very special. I am glad that Cameron was able to spend time with him. He was so incredibly spry that he would get down on the ground with her and do "this little piggie" on her toes and then hop back up to the couch. I used to joke that he could jump up off the couch quicker than I could. The man loved dessert more than anything. Many a meal would start with him talking about something sweet coming later…he couldn't wait for that and would eat quicker just to get to it sooner!
Though Cameron and I can't be there for his memorial tomorrow, we are thinking of him and the family and in the days following as things quiet back down and return to normal but without this special guy around. He will be greatly missed by his congregation, community, Grandma Mimi and the rest of the family. We love you, Grandpa!